WORK has begun in Ramsbottom as part of a £70,000 cash investment to replace ageing underground pipes.

The investment in local gas network is to help future-proof supply to thousands of homes

The old underground gas main has helped to heat thousands of homes in the Ramsbottom area for 90 years.

Installed in 1930, the cast iron pipe has reached the end of its safe operational life and 226 metres of it will be replaced without any need to disrupt the local gas supply or enter homes.

Engineers working on behalf of gas network Cadent will dig pits in the road and then insert a tough new plastic pipe into the old one. They will then thoroughly test and commission it.

The investment is set to ensure all homes that use gas for central heating and hot water – that’s more than 80 per cent of homes in the Ramsbottom area – can continue to get it safely and reliably for many years to come.

Craig Horrocks, from Cadent, said: “We’ve worked closely with Bury Council on the best time to do this, so that the unavoidable disruption is kept to a minimum.

"This is a busy road, but a little less so given the current situation with Covid-19. We’ve agreed with the council that this is a good time to go in – particularly as we don’t need to enter any homes to do this and we can keep gas flowing at all times.”

Traffic using the junction of Ramsbottom Lane, Carr Street, Bridge Street and Bolton Street is set to be controlled by temporary traffic lights, including new pedestrian crossings for each of those roads.

Traffic can still travel in both directions of Ramsbottom Lane, as one lane will be kept open for vehicles. Traffic flow will be controlled by lights, while there will be no access to or from Market Place, at its junction with Ramsbottom Lane.

All businesses that are currently open will be able to operate as usual throughout.

Letters are being sent to all properties in the immediate area of the work, social media posts will appear in local feeds and road signs will be in place both in advance and during the work.

Customers with any queries can contact the customer team on 0800 121 4444.